The NFL today filed an unfair labor practice charge against the NFLPA at the National
Labor Relations Board, alleging with just 17 days to go before the expiration
of the CBA that the union has for 20 months not been engaged in good faith negotiations.
The NFL said in an e-mail sent to reporters today that the complaint stated the
union was planning to decertify after March 3 and file an antitrust lawsuit against
the league, as it had done in '89.

"The NFL is asking for nothing more than the NLRB to order the union to bargain
in good faith," the league said. "The NFL stated to the NLRB that the union has
engaged in 'surface bargaining' and tactics designed to avoid reaching an agreement
before the CBA expires so that it can file antitrust litigation. … The union’s
strategy amounts to an unlawful anticipatory refusal to bargain."

The NFLPA in a statement said, "The players didn't walkout and the players can't
lockout. Players want a fair, new and long-term deal. We have offered proposals
and solutions on every issue the owners have raised. This claim has absolutely
no merit."